noun
fright, shock
B1
Schreck means fright or shock, often used for sudden fear or surprise. It is masculine: der Schreck; plural Schrecken. Singular genitive is irregular: des Schreckens. Common phrase: 'einen Schreck bekommen' (to get a fright). Use for emotional reactions, both literal scares and figurative shocks. Also used idiomatically in everyday speech.
Examples
Sie bekam einen großen Schreck, als das Licht ausging.
She got a big fright when the lights went out.
Der laute Knall versetzte mir einen großen Schreck.
The loud bang gave me a big fright.
Der plötzliche Knall löste bei allen einen Schreck aus.
The sudden bang caused shock in everyone.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a cartoon character jumping back with the caption 'Schreck!'.
Sounds like 'shrek' — imagine being frightened by a loud ogre.
DER Schreck — imagine a male character being the cause of the fright.
Notes
Schreck refers to a sudden feeling of fear or surprise. It is often used in expressions like 'einen Schreck bekommen'.